Pokémon's 30th anniversary does not hinge on a single date. Between 7 August and 6 November 2026, five events follow one another, including the first simultaneous worldwide release in the card game's history on 16 September. Here is the full autumn calendar, with what is already known about each date and what still has to be confirmed.
Official artwork for the 30th Anniversary set. ©2026 Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK
The 30th anniversary calendar, August to November 2026
| Date | Event | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| 7 August 2026 | First Partner Illustration Collection, series 3 | Third wave of the series devoted to starters |
| 28 to 30 August 2026 | World Championships, San Francisco | Moscone Center, along with the product announcements that traditionally accompany the event |
| 16 September 2026 | 30th Anniversary set | Simultaneous worldwide release, a first in the history of the TCG |
| 30 October 2026 | Espeon ex and Umbreon ex battle decks | Two Eevee evolutions in the spotlight |
| 6 November 2026 | Delta Reign and 30th Anniversary Ultra-Premium Collection | 30 boosters and textured promo cards in the box |
16 September: why that date changes things
Until now, Japan received its sets several months before the West, and Western collectors discovered the cards through leaks and fan translations. On 16 September 2026, the 30th Anniversary set will release the same day in Japanese, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
In practice, there is no longer an import window to weigh up, no three-month wait, and a pre-order market that plays out everywhere at once. For the buyer, it also means the pre-release speculation will be shorter, but sharper.
What the 30th Anniversary set holds
Every card in the set will be holographic, including the basic Energy cards, which had never happened on a main set. The main set holds 128 cards, plus rarities numbered beyond that.
The future rare rarity, brand new
This is the anniversary's new rarity. The first cards of the type feature Mewtwo and Mew, in a graphic style unlike anything the game has produced so far, signed by Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN.
Mew ex 158/128, 160 HP, Memory Spiral Ability, art by YOSHIROTTEN. ©2026 Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK
The second future rare card revealed. ©2026 Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK
Thirty different Pikachu, numbered 1 to 30
Every booster in the set can hold one of thirty Pikachu cards with unique artworks. The detail you only spot with the card in hand: they carry their own counter, such as 14/30, on top of their set number. Three are already known, illustrated by OKACHEKE, Yuu Nishida and Atsuko Nishida.
Pikachu 036/128, marked 14/30, art by OKACHEKE. ©2026 Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK
Pikachu by Yuu Nishida. ©2026 Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK
Pikachu by Atsuko Nishida, who designed the Pokémon in the first place. ©2026 Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK
Illustration rare cards and the new Pokémon ex
Espeon and Umbreon, Lapras, Drifloon, Zorua and Lycanroc return as illustration rare cards. On the playable side, Greninja and Sylveon arrive as Pokémon ex.
One of the set's illustration rare cards. ©2026 Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK
One of the set's new Pokémon ex. ©2026 Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK
Classic cards make their return in the set. ©2026 Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK
30 October: Espeon and Umbreon take the lead
The two Eevee evolutions each get their own battle deck on 30 October. That is no scheduling accident: Espeon and Umbreon have been the two most requested eeveelutions among collectors for years, and they also appear as illustration rare cards in September's set.
If you follow that family, the Umbreon crystal LED Poké Ball and the Espeon Poké Ball on a wooden base cover the same two Pokémon, alongside Eevee and Vaporeon in the collection.
6 November: the Ultra-Premium Collection and Delta Reign
Two distinct things land the same day. On one side, the 30th Anniversary Ultra-Premium Collection, with 30 boosters and textured promo cards. On the other, the Delta Reign set, which brings into English part of the Japanese cards from Storm Emeralda, released in Japan at the end of July around Mega Rayquaza.
What is still to be confirmed
Three points remain open at this stage. The exact contents and the price of the Ultra-Premium Collection have not been detailed. The full list of the thirty Pikachu has not been published, only three cards have been shown. Finally, the announcements at the World Championships in late August may well add dates to the calendar above, as they do every year.
As always with Pokémon anniversaries, caution on pre-orders beats haste: retailers often open their lists before the contents are officially detailed.
